"𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎."
~~~
𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕
Waking up early in the morning should be considered a crime.
Yet here I was sweating my entire a off because Coach was in a pissy mood. The sun had barely risen as we practiced plays on the field. Morning practices were gruesome since everyone you knew was fast asleep and you've been up two hours before the crack of dawn.
"Last games win doesn't mean slack off in practice," Coach bellowed generously. He stood to the side, arms crossed with a stern expression on his face.
The guys picked up the pace as we ended the final laps in stride. During the last few minutes of practice things would get slow and Coach hated every minute of it. I picked up my speed while occasionally wiping the sweat from my face with the hem of my shirt.
Ezra who was now back on his feet ran beside me while everyone trailed behind. He wasn't breaking a sweat and I was starting to wonder who was recently injured and who wasn't. I sped up just to keep up with the dude.
"Trying to keep up Stone?" he says, looking to the side at me briefly.
I sent him a glare as he laughed it off continuing to run in front of me. I'm already in his tail as we erupt into a full on sprint, our competitiveness getting ahead of us.
"Alright, alright. Bring it in." Coach said, stopping us in our tracks.
We slow down and make our way to the middle of the field where we kneel and look up to Coach. We rarely stopped in the middle of practice. It was obvious everyone was curious as to why.
"As per Ms.Rayes a few of you did not bother with helping your partners write the pieces on you. In other words they were very lackluster. He looks around while his eyes stop on a few of the guys.
"She gave me a list of names and you all will know by the end of tomorrow since you will be coming in for an extra conditioning workout."
No one dares to move. But we're all thinking the same thing. Who was he referring to?
Sages paper was shit to begin with but I made sure to revise the football aspects that same night in the hotel. I knew our paper couldn't have been the few he was talking about. Even if it was, the arcade game I gave her access to should help. But I was wary she wouldn't even bother using it after my stupid excuse of an attempt at acting on how I felt.
"May I remind each and every one of you, this is an amazing opportunity, which can help get you exposure with scouts. Please take advantage of it. You are dismissed." He finishes while everyone nods.
"Hey you know a freshman named Sage." Ezra asks beside me. I stiffen at his words but nod in response. "She's supposed to be my partner for this Newspaper club thing," he adds.
"She's taken. Find someone else."
He eyes me weirdly before taking a few seconds to connect the dots. A smirk plastered on his face and I silently groaned.
"My fault man. I didn't know she was yours." He says with a hint of amusement.
That's the thing.
She wasn't.
The rejection last night is still a fresh memory in the front of my mind. It's all I wanted to think about and forget at the same time.
"She's my partner. That's it." I end the conversation by beginning to walk away. Ezra is taken back my harshness but he should be used to it by now.
"I'm just kidding man, lighten up." He responds as I make my way towards the locker room. Everyone was clearing out the field, joy on their faces at the early release. But I contemplated if going back to my empty dorm was something I should do. It was so damn lonely. Nothing but college textbooks and beer bottles to keep me company.
I don't stop. I didn't have time for this.
"Zach." He shouts, pleading almost. I think he realized the lack of my joking mannerisms today. Rarely anyone noticed when I got like this. Ezra being one of the three that did.
I sigh while stopping in my tracks. He didn't deserve my pissy attitude and although I always got like this around this time of year the least I could do was not act like a dick.
"You've come a long way. I know she's proud of you."
I hope he's right because in reality it's all I ever wish for.
___
I make my way through the corridor and scan the halls but there's no luck.
Sage isn't here and if she was I'd easily spot her from a mile away.
Her infectious smile that lit up the room was rarely missed by me. A freaking idiot. That's what I was. I pushed too far yesterday and now I was facing the repercussions.
She'd usually walk through this hallway when I was heading to math. We'd briefly make eye contact and that itself was all I needed to make my day far greater than it barely was.
But I couldn't spot her ginger hair anywhere and that could only mean I was right.
As I enter the classroom on the right of me, my demeanor shifts. Fuck we had a test. How did I forget? I wasn't worried about bombing it but more so not being prepared as I should be. Nothing less than a B+ would satisfy me. And anything under a C would bench me from playing any games.
Both I refused to let happen.
Glancing around for a seat, I'm met with a few flirtatious stares, glares from other guys and a smiling Victoria insinuating I sit near her. That's when I knew waiting until the last minute to take this class was a bad idea.
I make my way over to a seat far away from her. My first wrong move because in less than sixty seconds she's sauntering to the empty seat beside me. This wasn't good because Victoria was blunt and so was I. And I'm pretty sure our conversation would be solely based around the one person I didn't want to talk about with her.
When Victoria sits down I briefly turn my head towards her giving a silent nod. I notice the plaid shirt wrapped around her waist while a white sleeveless tee hugs her frame. Along with that she wears a pair of baggy light washed jeans and chucks. Just a couple days ago she was wearing a yellow sundress. She liked to switch it up.
"Don't silent nod me, Zach. We're practically friends" she says engulfing me in a side hug. I wasn't surprised anymore. Vic was not a fan of personal space. Her bubbly personality was vibrant, and reminded me of my mother, which is why I haven't pulled away yet.
"See that's the spirit," she emphasized. I try to fight back a smile but it's too late and she sees it. "Now only if you could grace Sage with that crooked smile."
"You know how to ruin a moment," I say looking back at the front of the class. When was this test going to start? Glancing at my watch I see we're ten minutes behind schedule.
I knew this would bite me in the ass afterwards but I ask anyway."Did she come to school today?"
Beside my stupid attempt I noticed something was off. Sage would occasionally stare off into the distance and sometimes wrap her arms around her body making it smaller than it actually was. I was more concerned at first and I wondered if Kelsey noticed while they were together.
"You guys are so oblivious." She responds, not answering my question.
"To what exactly," I added, not sparing her a glance. For some odd reason I wanted to know her answer. To know I wasn't making things up in my mind. To know if she was feeling-
"Each other" she replied, interrupting my thoughts. "It's like something is pulling-"
"Alright pens out, I'll be handing out a test booklet for the remainder of class," a loud voice speaks before Victoria could finish.
The mood in the room suddenly shifts as students take their designated seats preparing to fail or pass this test. The guy who usually sat next to me glared at Victoria before turning around and looking for somewhere else to sit. She simply shrugged her shoulders while digging into her bag for what I assumed was a pen.
I pulled one out of my pocket while waiting for Scott to drop the papers on my desk.
I get in the zone, mentally preparing my brain for this long grueling hour ahead. I hadn't studied for this test so now was not the time to be thinking of Sage and why she wasn't in school today. It wasn't the time. I wasn't the type to let girls stunt my academic performance. And I wouldn't start today.
When the test is finally over with, I try to get Victoria to answer my question but she quickly leaves the classroom before I can get the chance.
Weird but I don't dwell on it.
The rest of the day is spent with me attending classes like usual without the presence of my best friend. Miles failed to make an appearance today and I was worried he was going to start falling behind since he had to pick up extra work shifts.
Between my practices and counseling I haven't gotten the time to go see how he and Bria were doing and I felt overly guilty at my confession.
My emotions were clearly heightened today and I was trying my best to keep them at bay. I'm usually level headed but all this added stress I never had to deal with my last two years of college was taking a toll on my composure.
I make my way to the opposite end of the hall and what I see doesn't surprise me.
AJ making out with Alex like two starved teenagers wanting a fix. I plan to walk around them but fate has other plans.
Alex notices me out of the corner of her eye and quickly pulls away from my teammate while fixing her skirt that had risen up. All the class I assumed she had suddenly went out the window. She uses her hand to feel her now plump lips and the other to smooth down her crimson hair. AJ just stands there clearly amused that I had caught them.
"Zach," she starts but I can't even look at her. Alex was once cool to hang out with but you could say college brought out the worst in her.
"Alex. I'd say it's nice to see you again but I don't pride myself in lying." I say stopping in my tracks. My eyes traveled to AJ who was trying to adjust his jeans subtly.
"It's really not what it looks like. I was over you then I wasn't. And you kept ignoring me so I just..."
"Fucked my teammates."
"Teammates? No, no it was only AJ. I swear." She pleads.
"And Córdoba, definitely Mills, and we all remember the incident with Johnson. I don't mind continuing." I say listing the many guys on the team I've seen her with.
Alex's face turns beet red at my words and it's easy to tell she was embarrassed. She thought I had no clue about her latest scandals but it was all I heard in the locker room.
I wasn't going to call her a slut because those guys have easily been with more women then she has been with men and what would that make them.
"Why do you care so much, Stone? Got rid of the model already." AJ finally speaks.
His response takes me off guard entirely and I don't get to reply because of Alex.
"You mean Sage. You're actually with her. I thought you didn't do relationships." She says with confusion all over face.
I don't. I mean I didn't. I'm confusing myself and maybe even Sage with my hot and cold emotions. She made it clear last night. This isn't what she wanted.
I myself wasn't ready for such a commitment. We were just in the heat of the moment. It happened to the best of us.
A few students walk through the hall staring and my glare sends them walking in the opposite direction.
"I don't have to explain anything to anyone. Especially to you." I say directly to her and she rolls her eyes in response.
"Listen as much as I'd love to chat with you two. Coach and I have a meeting with some pretty important people."
"Yeah, should be a drug tester," I mutter and something flashes in his eyes. He thought I didn't know. The red hazy eyes and his speed time decreasing every practice was clear as day. As bad as it sounded, all I saw were my chances at becoming captain increasing.
"Oh don't worry Zach. I heard you and your little girlfriend stay really busy with your weekly meetings." He says grinning and ignoring my last comment.
I tense involuntarily at his words. The weight on my shoulder gets heavier as he smiles knowingly. That shit was supposed to be confidential. How the hell did he find out about it?
"Counseling?" He questions further, raising one brow as he crosses his arms.
I clench and unclench my fist as my breathing falters for a few seconds. He was getting under my skin and he knew it. I fucking knew it. I tried my best to keep the counseling sessions under wraps but the team must have overheard Coach and I talking. But how did he know Sage was also attending the same one as me.
"What counseling?" Alex asks, looking between AJ and I. She genuinely looked concerned and I dismissed her heartfelt tone.
"If you know what's best for you, you'd mind your business."
AJ began walking towards me, testing my patience for sure. "A fucked up teammate is my business. This captain spot is mine, we both know it Zach. Give it up already."
"You're high every other practice. I think it's safe to say you're more messed up than I am."
"A little weed never hurt anyone. Nothing worse than being fucked up in the head. Isn't it? We're all wondering what happened to that chick you wouldn't stop looking for-"
In less than a second I roughly pinned him on the wall with his cheap jacket. He struggled against my grip and I couldn't help but smile.
"Smart of you to test me on school grounds, Diaz." I grit out through clenched teeth.
"What the hell are you doing? Get off of him Zach." Alex yelled while frantically looking for someone to stop me.
"Not so smart to question me in an empty hallway though." I continue while ignoring the drama queen in the corner of my eye.
"No one is afraid of you Zach, Zachariah. Whatever the hell your name is." He retorts.
My patience was spread thin. I had given him one too many chances and although this would be strike three I had no plans of getting caught.
"You know." I use only one of my hands to pin him down. Between my strength and his dazed state, this was maybe a little too easy. "Every one of those cameras don't work," I say pointing to them with my free hand while smirking.
Fear settled into his eyes and in a flash it's gone. Sadly, it doesn't work that way for me. All I saw was red. All I felt was anger. It was consuming me and no matter how much I tried to suppress it. I failed.
The hallway was free of any students probably why they were almost close to fucking eachother down here. You could hear a pin drop between our ragged breaths and the frantic clicking of Alex's heels.
He smiled and began chuckling as much as it hurt him. A coping mechanism I assumed. I knew I could take this much further if I wanted to but I was on thin ice already. The fights I've been in last year have me down by two strikes, one more and I was suspended indefinitely. No football. No scouts. No captain. And no NFL.
This is what he wanted
I loosen my grip on him and he only shrugs me off. Alex reaches for him in a consoling manner and he pushes her back. She would never learn. I continue my journey to the gym where I was supposed to be thirty fucking minutes ago.
***
"You sure you're good."
"I'm fine thanks for dropping me off." I unbuckle my seatbelt as Miles puts the car in park. After my small blow up with AJ I thought it wasn't best if I drove myself to this meeting.
"Don't thank me idiot. Now get out. I have to grab some snacks for the girls." He smiles while practically shoving me out of the car.
The girls he was referring to being Bria and Victoria. They were apparently having movie night. A disney marathon which used to be our thing with Bria. But I was starting to see the light make its way back into my best friend's eyes and nothing made me happier.
I hesitate for a bit, curious if she's going to show up.
It's been all but two days since our last encounter and I feel like I fucked everything up.
She wasn't some stupid distraction.
I didn't like distractions for gods sake.
"She's in there, now go." Miles confirms, reading my thoughts.
"I wasn't-
"And I'm the worst dad in the world. Don't lie to me Zach." I shake my head and close the door behind me as Miles begins making duck lips towards his hand, mimicking a heated make out session.
It was my mistake telling him about that almost kiss. But I still shake my head while trying to contain my own laughter.
I enter the building as Miles drives off when the receptionist Rosy, Robin whatever her name was smiles appreciatively in my direction. Today she wore something much more revealing than the last time I had seen her which had me wondering how she secured a job in a place like this.
Ignoring her, I quickly make my way upstairs and enter the room.
"Zach you're here. We were just about to begin. Please sit." Maria says while pointing to the only available seat in the room.
The seat right next to Sage.
"You're here." I say while sitting down. I'm immediately engulfed by her vanilla scent perfume and our legs brush briefly, which causes her to cross her legs immediately.
"And you're late," she replies back and I grin.
Her hair was neatly thrown up into a bun and on her body was a turtle neck that hugged her frame and enhanced her natural full chest and waist. She fiddled with the silver rings on her fingers as I looked at her. A nervous habit I assumed.
"Waiting for me to arrive? I thought you were ignoring me."
"Never in a million years. How'd you get my number?" She says, referring to my text and cutting straight to the chase.
"Victoria happily gave it to me."
"She would never." Sage responds instantly.
I raise my brow at her remark as she rethinks what she just said.
"Nevermind," she mumbles.
We all knew Victoria wasn't the type to refuse something like this. But I had practically begged her to give it to me and she obliged after I admitted why I needed it.
"Now that everyone is here, we can continue where we left off last week."
I sense Sage tense beside me probably at the fact that the last time we were here she was on the verge of tears. She goes right back to picking at her nails which were beginning to turn red at the nail beds.
"Would anyone like to start us off?" Maria asks, looking around.
The room is the quietest it has ever been. Everyone refused to make eye contact with Maria, afraid she would call one of us to go.
"I think we left off with-" Maria begins
"I'll go."
I hear Sage sigh beside me and she stops picking at her nails and clasps her hands together before quickly mouthing thank you.
"Zach, thank you for volunteering to go first. That was a big step no one else was willing to take. Please tell us why you're here." She says while writing what I assume is my name down.
Everyone had their eyes locked on me and it wasn't the attention bothering me.
The only eyes I wanted on me refused to turn my way.
"I'm not here for obvious reasons. My football coach recommended it." I shrug.
"Obvious reasons hmm. And why is that?" she inquires.
"No clue."
"Interesting. So you don't know why you're here is what I'm receiving."
"That's the simplest way to put it."
"Are you sure because the nasty bruise forming on your knuckles reveals much more than you're letting on."
Finally Sage looks at me but her eyes quickly avert to my hands in confusion. As fast as I can, I come up with a believable excuse.
"Practice this morning was tough." I add.
"Practice, right." She hums, egging me on. Her face remained passive but I could tell she wasn't buying it and it ticked me off more than it should've.
"I'm not lying if that's what you're thinking."
"Oh no. I would never assume such a thing. I'm just a bit skeptical, that's all." She says, shaking her head.
"Then quit questioning me because quite frankly I'm tired of it." I admit. Nobody told me speaking on Sages behalf would backfire like this.
"Zachariah-"
"It's Zach." I correct, coldly. What the hell is she doing? Trying to get me all riled up. Everyone here probably thinks I'm some lunatic who can't control himself.
"No, your name is Zachariah. You preferred to be called Zach and that's fine."
"What the hell is your problem?" I fumed while sitting up. I was no longer relaxed seeing as I was being targeted. Everyone who seemed to be half asleep was now awake due to my outburst and I was far from sorry.
"I don't tolerate lying Zach. It's part of why you chose to be here. To make progress we must be honest with ourselves."
What the fuck is she talking about?
"Do you think I want to be hauled up in this damn room with a bunch of strangers every Friday night. It wasn't my damn decision to make."
"You still come here every week. You know why you're here Zach. You're just too afraid to admit it." She clarified.
"I'm not afraid of shit. I'm not here because I'm fucked up like everyone else here." I throw the chair I was sitting on in the middle of the circle as my chest heaves up and down.
I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth because I know they hurt her especially coming from me.
"You just told me all I need to know Zach."
She stands up much shorter than I am and looks up to me.
I refuse to make eye contact with the woman who's been testing my patience for the past ten minutes, afraid she would see right through me. Then it dawned on me this was all part of her plan.
"You're here because of anger, Zach."
I sigh while looking around and I notice the only person that I could look at and calm me down had left the room before I could.
I fucked up.
End of Chapter
What do you think of this chapter? This was quite long because it was pre-planned weeks back. Why do you think Sage left?
QOTD: How long have you been reading on wattpad? Six years for me.